One of the biggest thrills in the world of travel rewards is undoubtedly snagging a hefty welcome bonus when you open a new credit card. These bonuses, often worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars in travel perks, provide a significant boost to your points and miles balances. However, securing that bonus requires meeting a minimum spending requirement within a specific timeframe. Missing out on this opportunity is a common, yet easily avoidable, mistake. I’m here to guide you through the best ways to track your spending and ensure you collect those valuable rewards.
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The Golden Rule: Don’t Miss the Bonus!
As someone who lives and breathes credit card rewards, I can’t stress this enough: never, ever miss out on a welcome bonus. It’s essentially free money (or, more accurately, free travel!) and maximizing these bonuses is key to unlocking incredible travel experiences. While spreadsheets and budgeting apps can help, navigating each issuer’s tracking system can be tricky. Let’s dive into what each major credit card issuer offers (or doesn’t offer) to help you stay on top of your spending.
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American Express: Chat is Your Friend
Sadly, American Express has removed its built-in welcome bonus tracker from its online accounts. However, don’t despair! Amex offers fantastic customer service. The easiest way to check your progress is to use their online chat feature or call them directly. A customer service representative can quickly tell you how much more you need to spend and the deadline to do so. I’ve used this method myself, and I’ve always found their representatives to be helpful and efficient.
One Amex card, The Platinum Card®, does have a spend tracker. This tracker is tied to Centurion Lounge guest access, which requires $75,000 in annual spending to bring up to two guests. While not specifically designed for tracking welcome bonus progress, it can provide a general overview of your eligible spending. It’s important to note, though, that purchases can take up to 12 weeks to appear in this tracker.
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Bank of America: Old-School Tracking Required
Unfortunately, Bank of America doesn’t offer a built-in tracker for welcome bonuses. This means you need to monitor your spending manually. I recommend keeping a detailed record of all purchases made on the card, noting the date and amount. Alternatively, you can contact Bank of America customer service for an update on your progress. While it’s not the most convenient method, a little diligence will prevent you from missing out on your bonus.
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Barclays: A Gradual Rollout of Tracking Tools
Barclays has begun rolling out a welcome bonus tracker! They started this in late 2023, beginning with JetBlue Plus Card holders, and are progressively expanding it to all credit card products. To check if it’s available for your card, head to the “Rewards” or “Rewards and benefits” section in your account on desktop or mobile, then look under “Featured benefits”.
If you can’t find it there, another place to look is “Activity & Statements” then “Spend Analyzer”. Here, you can filter your spending over the past three months to estimate your progress. I’ve found that Barclays offers good resources for checking your spending.
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Capital One: Calling is Key
Capital One also doesn’t display welcome bonus progress within your online account. Similar to Bank of America, the most accurate way to get this information is to call customer service directly. I know it’s not ideal, but a quick phone call is worth it to ensure you’re on track to receive your bonus. This is something that I do when I need an update.
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Chase: The Gold Standard for Bonus Tracking
Chase excels in providing a seamless tracking experience. They offer a built-in tracker that clearly shows how much you need to spend and your deadline. You can find this tracker in the Ultimate Rewards section on the website or within the Chase mobile app.
I particularly appreciate Chase’s tracker because it’s user-friendly and provides real-time updates. I have found it on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Having this visibility directly in the app is incredibly convenient, and it’s one of the reasons I often recommend Chase cards.
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Citi: Look for the Bonus Tracker Link
Citi provides a “New CardMember Bonus Tracker” accessible on both their website and mobile app. To find it, look for the “New CardMember Bonus Tracker” or “Learn more” link in the ThankYou Points preview box. Once I found the link, I have found it easy to track my progress.
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Discover: Manual Monitoring Required
Like Bank of America, Discover doesn’t provide a dedicated welcome bonus tracker. Therefore, you’ll need to manually track your spending to ensure you meet the minimum requirement. Remember to meticulously record your purchases and their dates to stay on track.
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Wells Fargo: Go Far Rewards Portal for Personal Cards
Wells Fargo cardholders can track their welcome bonus progress through the “Go Far Rewards” portal. This tool displays your spending towards the minimum requirement, the remaining time, and complete bonus details. However, keep in mind that this tracker is available for personal cards but not for business cardholders. I find that it’s a convenient feature for personal card users.
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Essential Reminders: Timing and Eligible Purchases
Remember that the clock for meeting the spending requirement usually starts on the day your application is approved, not when you activate or receive the card. Don’t assume that it starts when you use your card for the first time. Also, not all charges count towards the spending requirement.
For instance, annual fees typically don’t count, and some issuers exclude “cash equivalent” purchases like gift cards. I always recommend contacting customer service when activating your card to confirm the bonus deadline and clarify which purchases qualify. Some issuers measure the period in calendar days, while others use full billing months. Also, it’s critical to ensure your purchases post by the deadline; pending transactions won’t count.
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Final Thoughts: Stay Diligent and Reap the Rewards
While some credit card issuers provide excellent tracking tools, others require more manual effort. Regardless of the method, staying diligent and actively monitoring your spending is essential to secure those valuable welcome bonuses. Take advantage of the tools available, keep detailed records, and don’t hesitate to contact customer service for clarification. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you maximize your travel rewards and unlock incredible experiences. Now go out there and start earning those bonuses!
